Who you calling Ho?! Live Wire examines Newsday’s titillating headline

Ho ho ho!

Like jumping behind a stranger and trying to ram your groin into her back pocket, some indiscretions are only culturally acceptable during a particular period of the year. Any other time and you’re facing sexual assault charges and, possibly, psychological evaluation.

And the Trinidad Newsday newspaper, according to critics, might just have gotten its seasons mixed up.

Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies cricketer Lendl Simmons is accused of sharing intimate photographs of a local woman with whom he shared a brief sexual relationship. Incidentally, Simmons is a limited over specialist.

Photo: West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago cricketer Lendl Simmons on the pull during a one-day affair. (Copyright AFP 2015)
Photo: West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago cricketer Lendl Simmons on the pull during a one-day affair.
(Copyright AFP 2015)

The Trinidad Express went with: “Woman suing WI cricketer for sharing intimate photos.”

Newsday choose the snazzier: “Ho accuses Simmons of sex photo leak.”

Cue women’s rights and media tastes advocates choking on their morning’s cup of tea all over the country.

The Newsday was absolutely right. Undeniably. But could the daily newspaper be right and wrong?

Simmons’ alleged victim was born a Ho and, presumably, comes from a long line of Hos. Her name is Therese Ho.

Before we credit the Express for being more gracious in this delicate matter, bear in mind that the paper did not name the cricketer in their headline. The term “WI cricketer” could just as easily mean an obscure figure like Jamaican Nikita Miller. So the Express failed to establish value in the minds of anyone but avid cricket fans or “intimate photo” enthusiasts.

But did the Newsday keep it too real? Did editor-in-chief Jones P Madeira take too many liberties with Ho?

Elsewhere in the social media, top sport photographer Allan V Crane shared his own photos of a half-dressed Ho. On this occasion, it was triathalon starlet and 2014 First Citizens Sports Foundation Youth Award nominee, Joshua Ho. And there were no shares.

Is the sexism then solely on the side of readers who see nothing wrong in a teenaged male Ho yet feel compelled to rescue his female namesake?

Was Madeira Ho-shaming? Or has Trinidad and Tobago become so politically correct that it is no longer possible to call a Ho… ‘Ho’?

Photo: Who are you calling Ho?
Photo: Who are you calling Ho?

At school, where teachers refer to children by surnames, would there be righteous indignation during roll call? What if it was a co-ed school?

That’s a ticklish one. No pun intended. Honest.

So, Mr Live Wire would like to elevate that Ho discussion. Who’s with me?

As for Simmons and his alleged childish and hurtful actions, he should, if guilty, face the full brunt of his actions. Everyone deserves respect and privacy. Would he like anyone to treat his mother or sister like he did Ho?

And for the outraged readers, Live Wire can only hope they were not sharing DJ Lurbz own “leaked” video, a few weeks ago, with a woman resembling ex-Minister Two Pull’s wife.

Ho deserves civil courtesy regardless of her indiscretions. Hoes too. If the woman in the video isn’t your hoe; it isn’t your business!

So let’s ease off that Ho.

More from Wired868
Who’s after me?! Bin Laden’s granddaughter?! Griffith fires at media while Live Wire enjoys some banter

Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith channeled his inner Mike Pence today as he repeated calls for a range of sanctions Read more

Whodunnit?! Mr Live Wire searches for source of Express’ KPMG report on Gary Griffith

Scene: Dark, almost deserted car park in west Trinidad. Mr Live Wire makes his way towards the lone vehicle in Read more

Two robbers and a coast guardsman walk into a bar; the case of the thwarted hold-up

Scene: COSTAATT campus. In an effort to spice up its media programme, the tertiary level school has hired Mr Live Read more

Battered media, marooned PM, buss head specialists at large: Live Wire reports on Hurricane A&V

It is Day Seven of Hurricane A&V: a low pressure weather system which has struck Trinidad and Tobago with little Read more

“Rude Cop” strikes back! Live Wire roasts Express over “lewd” front page

The following is the legally satirical response to the Trinidad Express front page on 7 August 2017, which showed a Read more

The Sport Ministry’s chilling secret; Live Wire puts a hand on Minister Heavy-D Smith

First, the good news. Diego Martin Central MP Darryl Smith apparently has a firm grip on his staff at the Read more

About Mr. Live Wire

Mr. Live Wire is an avid news reader who translates media reports for persons who can handle the truth. And satire. Unlike Jack Nicholson, he rarely yells.

Check Also

Dear Editor: The late BC Pires embodied the spirit of the Calypso Tent

“[…] Truth be told, BC embodied the spirit of the Calypso Tent more than the …

167 comments

  1. Is that the old bat he made a stroke filled 69 with?

  2. Oh my, what’s in a name? Call me anything, but a…HO?

  3. Omg Lasagna this too funny. But Simmons should have definitely been more mature even if he is a limited over specialist.

  4. I’ve learn not to expect much class and or professionalism from the media in Trinidad and Tobago ..Apart from poor decisions like this one they continue to make major errors in everyday broadcasting but quick to criticize other people or institutions when they make a blunder

  5. No morals for a black man sue him big times

  6. Very sad that someone hoping to be a national hero continues to act in a manner that would get us all reluctant to allow him that status. He needs to grow up in many ways. His indiscretions continue to show him in very bad light.

  7. It was absolutely dispicable.A puerile display by a newspaper with NO credibility whatsoever.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.